Trump birthright citizenship executive order legal challenges

Reference TimelineLast updated MAY 25
SUMMARY

A decision in the Supreme Court case challenging former President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship is anticipated by the end of June or early July 2026, following oral arguments on April 1, 2026, where most justices expressed skepticism about the order's legality. As of May 25, 2026, the executive order, signed on January 20, 2025, has been halted by preliminary injunctions in lower courts, with a federal appeals court ruling it unconstitutional. Former President Trump attended the Supreme Court arguments, a first for a sitting or former U.S. president. The Justice Department is urging the Supreme Court to incorporate the concept of "domicile" into the interpretation of the 14th Amendment, while organizations like the NAACP, USCCB, and a coalition of 24 attorneys general, including Maryland AG Anthony G. Brown and Arizona AG Mayes, have urged the Supreme Court to strike down the order, arguing it distorts the 14th Amendment.

Timeline

Want updates on this thread?

Track this story

Timeline of developments

May 2026 1 developments

  1. A decision in the Supreme Court case challenging former President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship is anticipated by the end of June or early July 2026.

    A decision in the Supreme Court case challenging former President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship is anticipated by the end of June or early July 2026. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 1, 2026, with most justices expressing skepticism about the order's legality. The order has been halted by preliminary injunctions in lower courts.

April 2026 2 developments

  1. A federal appeals court has ruled former President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship unconstitutional.

    A federal appeals court has ruled former President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship unconstitutional. This is the first time an appellate court has addressed the merits of the executive action, which has been put on hold.

  2. Former President Donald Trump attended oral arguments at the Supreme Court on April 1, 2026, for a case challenging his executive order on birthright citizenship.

    Former President Donald Trump attended oral arguments at the Supreme Court on April 1, 2026, for a case challenging his executive order on birthright citizenship. This marks the first time a sitting or former U.S. president has attended Supreme Court arguments.

March 2026 3 developments

  1. The National Education Association (NEA) and other labor unions are defending birthright citizenship…

    The National Education Association (NEA) and other labor unions are defending birthright citizenship, stating that federal courts have issued injunctions blocking the enforcement of the executive order. The ACLU is also involved in multiple lawsuits challenging the order, with a federal appeals court in the 9th Circuit having ruled it unconstitutional.

  2. A Senate hearing was held in March 2026 to examine the interpretation of the 14th Amendment regarding birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants or tourists.

    A Senate hearing was held in March 2026 to examine the interpretation of the 14th Amendment regarding birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants or tourists. This discussion is linked to former President Trump's executive order that sought to limit birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on April 1, 2026, regarding this executive order.

  3. The Justice Department is urging the Supreme Court to incorporate the concept of "domicile" into the…

    The Justice Department is urging the Supreme Court to incorporate the concept of "domicile" into the interpretation of the 14th Amendment in the ongoing challenge to President Trump's birthright citizenship executive order. This legal strategy seeks to alter how parental immigration status affects a child's citizenship. Oral arguments in the case, Trump v. Barbara, are scheduled for April 1, 2026.

February 2026 10 developments

  1. The NAACP and other civil rights groups have urged the Supreme Court to strike down President Trump'…

    The NAACP and other civil rights groups have urged the Supreme Court to strike down President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship, arguing it distorts the 14th Amendment. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) also filed a Supreme Court brief opposing the order, calling it 'immoral' and an affront to Catholic teaching.

  2. The U.S. bishops and a Catholic immigration advocacy group have supported a lawsuit challenging Pres…

    The U.S. bishops and a Catholic immigration advocacy group have supported a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's executive order that limits birthright citizenship. Oral arguments in the case, Trump v. Barbara, are scheduled for April 1. The executive order, signed on January 20, 2025, sought to alter the legal interpretation of the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause.

  3. Maryland Attorney General Anthony G.

    Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general in defending birthright citizenship at the Supreme Court in the case Barbara v. Trump. Additionally, two historians have filed an amicus brief in support of the challenge to President Trump's executive order.

  4. Arizona Attorney General Mayes defended birthright citizenship on February 26, 2026, as the Supreme Court reviews the constitutionality of President Trump's executive order.

    Arizona Attorney General Mayes defended birthright citizenship on February 26, 2026, as the Supreme Court reviews the constitutionality of President Trump's executive order. The order, issued January 20, 2025, restricts citizenship to children with at least one U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident parent, and immigrant rights groups assert it violates the 14th Amendment.

  5. New York Attorney General Letitia James, leading a coalition of 23 other attorneys general and San Francisco, urged the U.

    New York Attorney General Letitia James, leading a coalition of 23 other attorneys general and San Francisco, urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold birthright citizenship by filing an amicus brief. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell also co-led a coalition of 24 attorneys general and San Francisco in a similar brief. Additionally, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, with 27 colleagues, signed an amicus brief to protect birthright citizenship.

  6. On February 24, 2026, 216 House and Senate Democrats filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of birthright citizenship in the case Trump v.

    On February 24, 2026, 216 House and Senate Democrats filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of birthright citizenship in the case Trump v. Barbara. The lawmakers argue that President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship violates the Constitution, Supreme Court rulings, and laws passed by Congress. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for April 1, 2026.

  7. President Donald Trump has criticized the Supreme Court over the pending case challenging his executive order on birthright citizenship.

    President Donald Trump has criticized the Supreme Court over the pending case challenging his executive order on birthright citizenship. Legal experts argue the order, which seeks to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents, is unconstitutional and contradicts established precedent. The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for April 1, 2026.

  8. The Pasadena City Council has voted to join as an amicus curiae in the legal challenge to President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship, supporting the plaintiffs.

    The Pasadena City Council has voted to join as an amicus curiae in the legal challenge to President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship, supporting the plaintiffs. This action adds a new municipal entity to the ongoing legal efforts against Executive Order 14160. The case, Barbara v. Trump, is scheduled for oral arguments before the Supreme Court on April 1, 2026.

  9. President Donald Trump expressed concerns on February 23, 2026, that the Supreme Court will rule aga…

    President Donald Trump expressed concerns on February 23, 2026, that the Supreme Court will rule against his executive order on birthright citizenship, drawing parallels to a recent Supreme Court decision that found his tariffs illegal. The order, issued on January 20, 2025, aims to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents.

  10. Legal organizations representing children affected by President Trump's executive order restricting …

    Legal organizations representing children affected by President Trump's executive order restricting birthright citizenship filed their Supreme Court merits brief on February 19, 2026. The lawsuit argues that the executive order violates the Constitution, Supreme Court precedent, and federal law. Oral arguments are scheduled for April 1, 2026.

January 2026 9 developments

  1. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that Alabama, along with a coalition of 26 states and territories, has filed an amicus brief with the U.

    Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that Alabama, along with a coalition of 26 states and territories, has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship. This brief backs the order aiming to prohibit “birthright” citizenship.

  2. A Supreme Court update notes the central question in Trump v.

    A Supreme Court update notes the central question in Trump v. Barbara is whether the president's executive order contravenes the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause, with the solicitor general arguing for citizenship.

December 2025 1 developments

October 2025 2 developments

  1. A federal appeals court upheld a district court's injunction blocking President Trump's executive order that sought to narrow birthright citizenship.

    A federal appeals court upheld a district court's injunction blocking President Trump's executive order that sought to narrow birthright citizenship. The First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of plaintiff states against the Trump administration on October 3, 2025. The Supreme Court has granted certiorari to hear the case, Trump v. Barbara, which challenges the executive order's compliance with the 14th Amendment.

  2. A federal appeals court in Massachusetts upheld a block on President Trump's executive order seeking to strip babies born in the United States of their U.

    A federal appeals court in Massachusetts upheld a block on President Trump's executive order seeking to strip babies born in the United States of their U.S. citizenship in the case of New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Donald J. Trump.

September 2025 1 developments

July 2025 1 developments

June 2025 2 developments

January 2025 3 developments

  1. Twenty-two states and immigrants' rights advocates have filed lawsuits challenging President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship.

    Twenty-two states and immigrants' rights advocates have filed lawsuits challenging President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship. On January 23, 2025, a federal judge issued a nationwide temporary restraining order blocking the order, stating the lawsuit is likely to prevail. The order, issued January 20, 2025, sought to deny U.S. citizenship to certain babies born in the United States to non-citizen parents.

  2. President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14160, "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship," aiming to deny birthright citizenship to children born in the U.

    President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14160, "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship," aiming to deny birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S. whose mothers were unlawfully present or had temporary lawful status, and whose fathers were not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. The order was set to apply to infants born on or after February 19, 2025.